2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday Preview and Tips – DS
2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday Tips
Well, after a miserable start, Day 1 turned out okay in the end. Hopefully one of our 2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday tips gets their head in front. I should have stuck to my initial instinct and not had a bet in the Queen Anne. In the Coventry we were on Rousing Encore for 5 places and he of course finished 6th. Show Respect probably found the going too quick. Tis Marvellous travelled well but finished weakly and Mondammej refused to go into the stalls.
Things at least improved in the last three races. Our 16/1 NB Reshoun stayed on well to get up for 5th. He just had to launch his challenge from too far back. West End Charmer also stayed on late to nick 5th for us at 16s (advised 5 places). De Sousa didn’t drop Island Brave out or try to dicate and he just didn’t pick up.
2.30 – Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
Unfortunately, my original ‘dark horse’ selection for this race wasn’t declared. Love Reigns was though and it’s going to be fascinating to see how her form translates to a stiff, straight 5f. She won in extremely impressive fashion at Keeneland and that was over 5.5f so the trip today should be fine. She is by a very promising sire in US Navy Flag and her trainer knows what it takes to win at this meeting. No doubt she’ll have lots of supporters but odds of 3/1 make no appeal.
Amo Racing are quickly becoming a huge force in these juvenile races and they run five here. Retained rider Rossa Ryan is on Miami Girl who is surprisingly bigger odds than the Irish raider Olivia Maralda (De Sousa rides) and the Dave Loughnane trained Omniqueen (Roche rides). Olivia Maralda is a maiden, finishing 2nd on both starts. Rossa Ryan rode Omniqueen to victory on debut so he clearly must have a lot of faith in Miami Girl.
The daughter of Cotai Glory hacked up on her debut at Newmarket (5f gd/fm). At York last time she wasn’t the best away and she raced far too keenly. She could only manage 8th and she was beaten 7.5L but she is more talented than she showed that day. It is 11 years since Richard Hannon won this race, hopefully Miami Girl ends the drought at odds of 25/1.
2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday Tips: Miami Girl e/w @ 25/1 (5 places)
3.05 – Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
Just the eleven 3yos will line up in the stalls for this 14f Group 3. The undefeated Eldar Eldarov heads the betting for Varian and David Egan. By Dubawi, he won a backend maiden at Nottingham easily in October. On his reappearance in a Newcastle novice last month he scored by 2.25L under a penalty. The 86 rated 3rd won a maiden by 9L next time out so it is decent, if not spectacular, form. However, this is a big step up in class, and in trip, and at 4/1 he is worth taking on.
With Colin Keane booked for the ride, Zechariah could finally show what he is truly capable of. The Meades’ son of Nathaniel was very promising as a 2yo. He landed a 7f maiden at Sandown, beating Bullet Force and Thesis by over 3L. Then, on his last 2yo outing, he landed a class 2 conditions race over a mile at Newbury (gd/sft). Derby 3rd Westover was 2.25L behind in 2nd, so it was a pretty impressive performance.
This season, Zecheriah has yet to hit top form. I thought he ran better than it looked at Newmarket on his return behind Native Trail. He just got outpaced and shaped in need of further. It was a messy race last time at Lingfield and I am willing to forgive him that. This time there should be a decent gallop and hopefully it brings this fella’s stamina to the fore. The ground should be fine, he has one of the best jockeys in the business on board and at 20/1, Zechariah can hopefully sneak into the frame.
2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday Tips: Zechariah e/w @ 20/1 (4 places W Hill)
3.40 – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)
A rubbish turnout of just five for this million pound Group 1. Bay Bridge is 11/8 to continue his winning spree. He has moved through the ranks with ease and his 5L Sandown win last time out was a career best. Given that was his first run back, there could be more improvement to come and this race has likely been the plan for some time. The good times could continue to roll for Stoute.
Lord North is a top class, consistent horse and he’ll keep the fav honest. Japanese raider Shahryar landed a G1 in Meydan last time and he has to be respected too. The Irish challenger, State Of Rest, ran a huge race at the Curragh last time behind Alenquer, form that puts him right in the mix here. Last, but not least, is Grand Glory, but the ground may just be on the quick side for her. This is a race I am happy to just watch without getting involved. Bay Bridge should win though, and maybe State Of Rest can chase him home.
2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday Tips: No Bet
4.20 – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
I have already tipped up Primo Bacio for this at 20/1 and I am sticking to my guns. The faster the ground, the more it will suit this daughter of Awtaad and the weather has come right for her. You can read more about why I like her here. She has been backed into 12/1 now, hopefully some of you got the value. Saffron Beach is the market leader and she is a very talented horse. She landed the G1 Sun Chariot in October and she lost no caste in defeat behind Lord North at Meydan. The one to beat.
Mother Earth was 3L behind Saffron Beach in that Newmarket G1. I haven’t seen anything from her in recent runs to suggest she’ll turn that form around. Bashkirova is a progressive type and she won a G3 at Epsom last time. This will be a different kettle of fish and it remains to be seen if she is up to this lofty level. Novemba would probably prefer a bit of cut in the ground but French raider Sibila Spain will like the ground and she could go well. I’m sticking with my ante-post pick though, hopefully she finally delivers on the big stage.
2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday Tips: Primo Bacio already advised e/w @ 20/1
5.00 – Royal Hunt Cup (Class 2)
Thirty runners over the straight mile at Ascot. This race can be a graveyard for punters. You can find one that is well handicapped, well drawn and then they end up meeting traffic problems or getting hampered. My strategy here is to back one drawn high and one drawn low and just hope that they get a bit of luck in running. The one I am backing from a low draw is Desert Peace for Appleby and Buick.
This son of Curlin has won four of his nine starts. All his wins came on artificial surfaces but his sole run on turf, on firm ground at Belmont Park, was a cracker. He led everywhere bar on the line in that 9f heat so the drop back to 8f should be in his favour. On his next start he landed a dirt race at Meydan (10f muddy) and then he ran below par on fast dirt the next twice. He won first time out in 2021 so the lack of a recent run is not a concern and off a mark of 100, hopefully William Buick gets him into the reckoning at 25/1.
Well Treated
Of those drawn higher, Etonian could be well treated off 100. This horse displayed lots of ability as a 2yo. His 3yo season didn’t go to plan though. He had only one run at Sandown and finished well beaten behind Alenquer. On his first run for over a year he ran a huge race behind Modern News on his handicap debut at Newbury off 105. He finished just 5L behind the winner, making late gains under Pat Dobbs.
Connections decided to have a go in the Lockinge o his next start but he was outclassed. However, every cloud has a silver lining and the assessor dropped him 3lbs to 100. That means he is 5lbs lower than at Newbury and he should be a whole lot sharper and fitter now with two runs under his belt. Pat Dobbs is back on board (won twice on him) and at odds of 40/1, Etonian looks a very intriguing contender.
2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday Tips: Desert Peace @ 25/1 (7 Places B365); Etonian e/w @ 40/1 (7 Places B365)
5.35 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)
If he handles the quick ground, Little Big Bear is the one to beat here. The 5/2 fav hacked up in a Naas (5f sft) maiden last month, beating Alexis Zorba by 3L. He was just edged out over 6f on his debut and this looks the right trip for him at this stage. At bigger odds, Knebworth is a fascinating contender for Hughes and Pat Cosgrave.
By Awtaad, he has won both his starts so far on the all-weather at Lingfield, both over 5f. On his debut he hosed up by 5L. Next time under a penalty it was more workmanlike but he displayed a good attitude to land the odds. He was conceding 4lbs to two subsequent winners, one of whom re-opposes here (Edgar Linton).
On pedigree, fast ground should be right up this fella’s street. His sire Awtaad loved quick conditions and his Acclamation dam is related to three good/good to firm winners. Richard Hughes has his horses in excellent form and a strongly run race over a stiff 5f should really suit Knebworth. He is drawn in 19 but there is plenty of pace around him so he should get a good tow into the race. At odds of 14/1, Knebworth is the each way selection.
2022 Royal Ascot Wednesday Tips: Knebworth e/w @ 14/1 (5 places W Hill) NB
6.10 – Kensington Palace Stakes Handicap (Class 2)
A tricky finale with 20 runners in this 8f handicap restricted to fillies and mares aged 4yo or older. Joseph O’Brien’s string has really started to hit top form in recent weeks and Neptune Rock was a big eyecatcher at Gowran last time. She wasn’t the quickest away and in the early stages she had a fairly rough trip. As they turned for home the leaders had flown and initially, it looked like she would finish well beaten.
However, a furlong from home she really started to motor and she finished off very well for 4th. That was her first ever run in handicap company off 96 and the handicapper gave her a pound back. The third home at Gowran, Celtic Crown, was racing off 81 and finished 0.75L in front of Neptune Rock. On her next start she hacked up off 3lbs higher in a Premier Handicap at the Curragh.
Neptune Rock has been highly tried throughout her career. She has yet to pick up black type but she ran some great races in Listed and G3 company last season. A big field handicap could really suit her and so should the stiff 7f at Ascot. Shane Crosse takes over from a 7lbs claimer and at odds of 33/1, Neptune Rock looks a solid e/w bet.
